Find Academic Supervisors

• Plant Genetics
• Essential Oil Chemistry
• DNA Metabarcoding
• +5 more

Corinna Schmiderer is a researcher at the Institute of Botany within the Department of Ecosystem Management, Climate and Biodiversity at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). Her work focuses on plant biochemistry and genetics, with particular expertise in aromatic plants of the Lamiaceae family including sage, oregano, and marjoram species. Dr. Schmiderer's research primarily investigates plant genetic diversity, essential oil composition, and DNA-based identification methods for medicinal and aromatic plants. Her work spans phytochemical analysis of Origanum species across different geographic regions (Austria, Corsica, Syria), genetic diversity studies of Cistus species, and development of DNA metabarcoding techniques for plant authentication. She has made significant contributions to understanding how environmental factors and microbial interactions influence secondary metabolite production in plants. Her publication record shows consistent research output from 2008 to 2023, with recent work focusing on monoterpene synthases in sage species and intraspecific genetic diversity in Cistus plants. The research demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between plant genetics, biochemistry, and conservation biology, with applications in plant authentication, quality control of medicinal plants, and understanding evolutionary relationships. Dr. Schmiderer is currently involved in the research project "Assessment of the state of genetic diversity of steppe plants in Austrian dry habitats as a basis for the detection of future trends" (2024-2025), which examines genetic diversity of steppe plants in Austria's dry habitats to establish baseline data for monitoring future ecological changes. This project involves collaboration with the Institute of Integrative Nature Conservation Research and is funded by national companies.

Ivan MagginiView profile

Researcher

• Bird Migration
• Physiological Ecology
• Ornithology
• +3 more

Ivan Maggini serves as a Researcher and Scientific Coordinator of the Austrian Ornithological Centre at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, where he leads the Ornithology unit within the Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences. His work focuses on physiological constraints shaping bird migration strategies across extreme environments like deserts and seas. Maggini holds a PhD in Ornithology from the University of Oldenburg (2005-2009) and a Diploma in Zoology from the University of Zurich (1998-2004). His postdoctoral training includes fellowships at the Institute of Avian Research Helgoland (2009-2010) and the University of Western Ontario (2012-2014), where he studied migratory physiology under Prof. Franz Bairlein and Prof. Christopher Guglielmo. His research centers on how physiological limitations—particularly water balance and energy management—determine migratory behavior in passerines crossing the Sahara. By measuring cutaneous water loss in species from different habitats and tracking birds via Motus nanotags, he investigates why Mediterranean species successfully refuel without surface water while central European species require drinking sources. His work integrates field studies in Morocco, Israel, and Italy with advanced tracking technologies to assess climate change impacts on migration flexibility. Recent publications reveal consistent themes in physiological migration ecology, with emphasis on hormonal regulation (corticosterone, testosterone), thermoregulation in extreme heat, and innovative methods like diet metabarcoding. His work demonstrates how physiological adaptations constrain responses to environmental change, particularly in trans-Saharan migrants facing desert and sea crossings. Maggini actively supervises four students—Armando Aispuro, Clara Machowetz, Bernhard Paces, and Barbara Waringer—and leads three major projects: 1) Water balance mechanisms in desert-crossing migrants; 2) Austria's Motus tracking network expansion across the Alps; 3) Coordination of the national bird ringing scheme integrating traditional methods with modern tracking. His research receives support through international collaborations with European institutions and the Motus wildlife tracking network. As Scientific Coordinator of the Austrian Ornithological Centre, he directs the Ornithology unit at the Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, maintaining field operations at key migration hotspots including Neusiedlersee, Grünau, and Ventotene Island. His team collaborates with Mediterranean ringing stations to study migratory connectivity across the European-African flyway.

Helena BilandžijaView profile

Research Fellow

• Evolutionary Developmental Biology
• Eco-Evo-Devo Adaptive Evolution
• Cave Biology
• +3 more

Helena Bilandžija is a Senior Research Fellow at the Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb, Croatia, specializing in Evolutionary Developmental Biology and Subterranean Ecology . Her work bridges Phenotypic Plasticity and Genetic Assimilation in cave organisms. Education: PhD in Biology (2007–2013), Ruđer Bošković Institute & University of Osijek Postdoc (2015–2017), University of Maryland BSc in Biology-Ecology (1999–2005), University of Zagreb Research Themes: Evolution of albinism via melanin pathway defects Role of catecholaminergic systems in cave adaptation Conservation of subterranean species like Congeria bivalves Epigenetic mechanisms in phenotypic plasticity Phylogeography of Dinaric Karst endemics Comparative transcriptomics across cave and surface species Grants: 2019–2024: €1M TTPP Grant for 'Evolution in the Dark' 2014–2017: €118k NEWFELPRO Postdoctoral Grant Scientific Awards: NEWFELPRO Fellowship (2014–2017) EMBO Short-Term Fellowship (2014) L'Oréal-UNESCO 'For Women in Science' Fellowship (2013) Best Poster at 21st International Conference on Subterranean Biology (2012) Her research spans Cavefish (Astyanax mexicanus) , Dinaric Karst Bivalves , and Isopod Crustaceans , with a focus on Genetic Adaptation , Environmental DNA , and Conservation of Subterranean Ecosystems . She collaborates with teams across Europe and North America, maintaining Cave and Surface Invertebrate Facilities for experimental studies.

Brendan WilhelmiView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Aquaponics
• Biochemistry
• Microbiology
• +5 more

Prof Brendan Wilhelmi is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology at Rhodes University, South Africa. With a career spanning over two decades, his expertise encompasses aquaponics, microbial ecology, enzyme-nanoparticle interactions, and environmental biotechnology. He previously held academic positions at the University of Fort Hare (2002), Technikon Witwatersrand (1999-2001), and the National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa Laboratory (1997-1999, 1991-1993). Rhodes University (2009-present) University of Fort Hare (2002) Technikon Witwatersrand (1999-2001) National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa Laboratory (1997-1999, 1991-1993) His research focuses on biochemical markers in soilless plant growth systems , utilizing metabarcoding and metabolomic approaches to study microbiome roles in aquaponics. Key projects include seasonal microbial diversity assessments, probiotic applications, and DNA barcoding for species identification. Publications emphasize aquaponic systems, nanoparticle-biochemistry interactions, and enzymatic studies in environmental and biomedical contexts. Recent publications highlight interdisciplinary trends in microbial community analysis , nanoparticle toxicity , and plant-fish ecosystem dynamics . He supervises active research on aquaponics microbiology and has graduated numerous MSc and PhD students specializing in topics spanning from nanoparticle neurotherapeutics to forensic entomotoxicology . He teaches core modules including Advanced Metabolism , Scientific Writing , and Biochemistry Building Blocks , while serving as Honours coordinator. Affiliations include Nelson Mandela Hall Fellow (2016-present) and leadership roles in departmental management (2013-2017 Head of Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology). Labs and teams: Leads research in aquaponics systems within the soilless plant growth research group, collaborating with microbiologists, chemists, and environmental engineers to optimize sustainable agricultural practices.

Henrik KrehenwinkelView profile

Professor

• Environmental Genomics
• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• +4 more

Henrik Krehenwinkel is a Full Professor (W3) in the Department of Biogeography at the University of Trier , Germany. His research integrates genomic tools with field and lab experiments to study biological responses to global environmental change , focusing on arthropod communities in Europe and Pacific islands, particularly Hawaii. Employment history: Full Professor at Trier (2022–present), Assistant Professor (2018–2022), Postdoctoral Researcher at UC Berkeley (2015–2018), and Max Planck Institute (2014). Education: PhD in Evolutionary Genetics (2013), Diploma in Biology (2009) from Ruhr University Bochum, and studies in Molecular Ecology at IISc Bangalore (2008). Research Interests center on evolutionary adaptation , ecological community dynamics , and environmental DNA (eDNA) applications . Key project themes include retrospective biodiversity analysis , rapid field detection tools , agricultural pest monitoring , and eco-evolutionary responses of metaorganisms . His lab also investigates extreme sexual selection in spiders and invasive species biosecurity . Publications highlight genomic approaches to biodiversity monitoring, including eDNA from archived herbaria , molecular gut content analysis , and third-generation sequencing for taxonomy . Awards include the Konrad Thaler Dissertation Prize (2016), DFG Postdoctoral Fellowship (2015–2017), and summa cum laude distinctions. Teaching includes courses on Molecular Biogeography , Tropical Biodiversity Excursions (India/Hawaii), and Biology of Arachnids/Fishes . He leads environmental specimen bank projects and develops user-friendly eDNA detection systems for agricultural applications.

Susan KennedyView profile

Researcher

• Island biology
• Arthropod community ecology
• Molecular gut content analysis
• +5 more

Susan Kennedy is a Postdoctoral Researcher and Laboratory Manager at the University of Trier, Department of Biogeography within the Faculty of Spatial and Environmental Sciences. Her research focuses on island biology, arthropod community ecology, molecular gut content analysis, and spider biodiversity and systematics, utilizing DNA metabarcoding and other advanced molecular techniques. University: University of Trier School: Spatial and Environmental Sciences Department: Biogeography Email: kennedy@uni-trier.de Education: Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Policy and Management from UC Berkeley (2018) B.A. in Biology from Earlham College (2008) Research Interests: Susan's work explores the intersection of molecular ecology and island biogeography, with a focus on spider biodiversity and arthropod community dynamics. She employs DNA metabarcoding to analyze predator-prey interactions and ecosystem structure, particularly in Pacific island systems affected by anthropogenic disturbance. Recent Publications: Her research contributes to understanding biodiversity patterns through high-throughput DNA sequencing, including studies on spider gut microbiomes, genome evolution, and environmental DNA sampling. She has developed protocols for cost-effective metabarcoding and has investigated the role of habitat fragmentation in microallopatric differentiation. Scientific Awards: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (2012-2017) NSF Graduate Research Internship Program (2016-2017) Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award (UC Berkeley, 2018) Bob Lane and Sandy Purcell Graduate Summer Award (UC Berkeley, 2017) Harvey I. Magy Memorial Scholarship (UC Berkeley, 2016) California Scholarship Fund (2016) Robert L. Usinger Memorial Award (UC Berkeley, 2015) Phi Beta Kappa induction (2008) Departmental and College Honors at Earlham College (2008) Millard S. Markle Award for Field Biology (Earlham College, 2008) Teaching Experience: She has served as Graduate Student Instructor for Spider Biology and Field Entomology at UC Berkeley, and as an SAT Instructor and Undergraduate Teaching Assistant at PowerScore and Earlham College, respectively. Her project 'Pacific Scanner' involves international collaboration across Germany, Japan, and the USA.

• Marine Ecotoxicology
• Marine Biology
• Benthic Ecology
• +7 more

Francisco Jardim de Almada Nascimento is an Associate Professor in Marine Ecotoxicology at the Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences (DEEP) at Stockholm University. His research focuses on understanding how ecosystems respond to anthropogenic and environmental disturbances both structurally and functionally, with particular emphasis on Baltic Sea ecosystems. His main research interests include: Responses of benthic communities to eutrophication Species interaction effects on benthic ecosystem processes Structuring factors of metazoan biodiversity in benthic habitats Toxicity of mixtures of contaminants on ecosystem function Dr. Nascimento is actively involved in two major research projects: NEMOte BARCODing (2019-2023), which employs state-of-the-art eDNA sequencing techniques and DNA metabarcoding to improve monitoring tools for Baltic benthic ecosystems; and a project (2023-2027) investigating the environmental risks associated with seabed mining for rare earth elements in the Baltic Sea. His research utilizes advanced molecular techniques including eDNA and eRNA sequencing to understand benthic biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. His publication record demonstrates a strong focus on the impacts of anthropogenic disturbances on marine ecosystems, examining how factors like bottom trawling, recreational boating, pollution, and changing phytoplankton communities affect benthic biodiversity and ecosystem processes. His work often involves interdisciplinary collaborations and employs cutting-edge molecular methods to address complex environmental questions. Dr. Nascimento is also involved with the Baltic Sea Fellows network, an interdisciplinary group of young researchers focused on Baltic Sea research, and leads his own research group focusing on ecosystem responses to disturbances. He teaches courses in Ecotoxicology, Marine Biology, and Ecology at both undergraduate and graduate levels, and is interested in supervising BSc and MSc projects related to marine ecology and ecotoxicology.

Ida HartvigView profile

Assistant Professor

• Conservation Genomics
• Plant-Microbe Interactions
• Orchid Ecology
• +5 more

Dr. Ida Hartvig is an Assistant Professor at the Section for Hologenomics within the Globe Institute at the University of Copenhagen, where she leads research in molecular ecology and conservation biology. Her work focuses on plant-microbe interactions, species conservation, and biodiversity assessment methods, with particular emphasis on orchid ecosystems and Southeast Asian timber species. Research Interests: Hartvig's interdisciplinary research integrates conservation genomics, eDNA metabarcoding, and ecological studies to address biodiversity loss. Key areas include: Orchid-mycorrhizal fungal relationships and their role in ecosystem health Population genomics of endangered plant species Development of molecular tools for species identification and delimitation Ecological applications of environmental DNA analysis Conservation strategies for threatened Asian rosewoods Her publications demonstrate consistent focus on conservation genomics, particularly regarding orchids and endangered timber species. Recent work shows increasing emphasis on mycorrhizal interactions and genomic adaptation to environmental stressors. Awards & Recognition: Horizon Europe MSCA Fellowship (2023) Carlsberg Reintegration Fellowship (2021) Carlsberg Internationalisation Fellowship (2019) Hartvig actively advises graduate students, offering MSc/BSc projects combining fieldwork and laboratory analysis of orchid microbiomes. She collaborates internationally on conservation initiatives, with research referenced in policy documents and news outlets.

Brandon Samuel WhitleyView profile

Research Fellow

• Arctic Plant Diversity
• Pollination Networks
• Ecological Network Theory
• +5 more

Brandon Samuel Whitley is a Research Fellow at the Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, specializing in Arctic Plant Diversity and Pollination Networks. His research employs molecular and computational tools to investigate ecological networks in high-latitude systems undergoing climate change. His primary research interests include: Arctic and community ecology Ecological network theory Plant-pollinator interactions Global change biology DNA metabarcoding techniques Biodiversity conservation applications Whitley's work focuses on building Arctic plant-pollinator interaction networks through DNA metabarcoding of pollinators collected in Greenland, comparing pollen DNA to custom barcode libraries. His research is critical for understanding climate change impacts on Arctic ecosystems and informing conservation policy. His recent publications examine bio-climatic drivers of vegetation change, harmonization of digitized herbarium data for Greenland's flora, and national DNA barcoding initiatives. These works span ecology, climate science, botany, and molecular biology with specific applications to Arctic biodiversity monitoring and conservation. Professional affiliations include: British Ecological Society, Conservation Ecology Group - PhD student representative Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (Danish Chapter) - Chair Te Tira Maurikura network for emerging researchers - Member Faculty Board of Natural History Museum of Denmark - PhD student representative He has co-supervised MSc students and served as teaching assistant for multiple university courses. His extensive fieldwork spans Greenland, Svalbard, Germany, France, Netherlands, and Belgium, focusing on plant-pollinator interactions and ecosystem monitoring.

• Environmental DNA
• Metabarcoding
• Ancient DNA
• +5 more

Tobias Guldberg Frøslev serves as an Affiliated Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen's Globe Institute within the Section for Geogenetics. His research focuses on cutting-edge applications of environmental DNA and metabarcoding techniques across diverse ecosystems. His research interests span environmental DNA methodology , ancient DNA analysis , and biodiversity assessment across marine, terrestrial, and soil environments. Frøslev's work particularly emphasizes fungal ecology, vertebrate diversity monitoring, and paleoenvironmental reconstruction through innovative DNA-based approaches. His research bridges traditional taxonomy with modern genomic techniques to address fundamental ecological questions. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward methodological innovation in environmental DNA applications, with significant contributions to marine paleoecology, fungal systematics, and terrestrial biodiversity monitoring. His work demonstrates increasing recognition through substantial citation metrics and media coverage, particularly for research on airborne environmental DNA. Frøslev maintains active collaborations across international research networks as evidenced by his extensive co-authorship patterns and geographic collaboration maps. His research output shows consistent productivity with 80 total publications and significant engagement through platforms like Mendeley and social media. He leads research activities within the Geogenetics section, focusing on developing and applying DNA-based methods for biodiversity assessment and ecological monitoring. His work contributes significantly to the Globe Institute's mission of understanding Earth's past environments through genetic approaches.

• Hologenomics
• Microbiome Research
• Metagenomics
• +3 more

Iñaki Odriozola Larrañaga is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Copenhagen's Globe Institute, specifically within the Section for Hologenomics. His research focuses on advanced genomic techniques to study host-microbe interactions across diverse species. His research interests span hologenomics, metagenomic analysis, environmental DNA applications, and microbiome dynamics. Dr. Odriozola Larrañaga specializes in developing and implementing genomic methodologies to understand how environmental factors influence microbial communities in various organisms, from mammals to fish. His work bridges computational biology with field ecology to address fundamental questions about host-microbe coevolution. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on methodological development in hologenomic research, with particular attention to DNA extraction protocols, data generation standards, and functional inference techniques. His research shows consistent collaboration with the Alberdi and Gilbert research groups, focusing on comparative studies across vertebrate species and environmental contexts. Dr. Odriozola Larrañaga maintains active research collaborations across multiple institutions, as evidenced by his co-authorship patterns and international publication record. His work has generated significant academic interest, with multiple publications receiving substantial attention on academic social networks and research platforms.

• Soil Ecology
• Microbial Ecology
• Environmental Microbiology
• +3 more

Jonathan Donhauser serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Copenhagen, specializing in Terrestrial Ecology. His research investigates soil-ecosystem interactions with a focus on microbial communities and environmental change. Research interests encompass: Soil ecology and biogeochemistry Microbial community responses to aridity and elevation Greenhouse gas fluxes and soil organic matter dynamics Bioinformatic tool development for microbial trait modeling Methodological innovations in soil DNA extraction His recent publications (2023-2025) emphasize methodological advances and climate change impacts on soil functions. Key themes include the development of the R package MicEnvMod, analysis of Europe-wide forest soils, and the role of soil properties in mediating microbial activity and ecosystem services. Scientific awards: None mentioned. Advising and grants: No information provided. Dr. Donhauser maintains active collaborations across European institutions, contributing to international research networks in soil science and ecology.

• Spatial dynamics
• Insect-plant interactions
• Quantitative food webs
• +7 more

Professor Tomas Roslin is a prominent ecologist at the University of Helsinki, affiliated with the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences and the Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme. His research focuses on the spatial dynamics of ecological communities, particularly insect-plant interactions and quantitative food webs. Roslin leads the Spatial Foodweb Ecology Group, which investigates how spatial context affects interactions between plants, herbivorous insects, and their natural enemies. Professor Roslin's research spans multiple ecological domains, with particular emphasis on spatial dynamics in food webs, habitat fragmentation, and metacommunity processes. His work demonstrates how spatial context affects not only ecological population dynamics but also microevolutionary processes such as local adaptation. Recent research has increasingly focused on quantitative food webs as descriptors of insect interactions with other trophic levels, addressing general patterns across multiple local food webs and linking food web structure to functioning. His studies often incorporate cutting-edge molecular techniques like metabarcoding to explore biodiversity patterns. Analysis of Professor Roslin's recent publications reveals a strong focus on climate change impacts on ecological communities, particularly in northern ecosystems. His work examines thermal homogenization of boreal communities, latitudinal gradients in species interactions, and the effects of climate warming on Arctic plant-fungus networks. There's also significant emphasis on methodological advances in biodiversity monitoring, including metabarcoding approaches for studying insect microbiota and airborne fungal DNA. His research increasingly addresses conservation applications, particularly for invertebrates. Professor Roslin has received several prestigious awards recognizing his contributions to ecology and mentorship: Academy of Finland Recognition Award (2005) Best tutor of undergraduate students in the Faculty of Biosciences (2007) Commendation for good thesis supervision (2011) Oskar Öflund Foundation "The Big Prize" (2011) Professor Roslin actively supervises students at multiple levels, serving as supervisor or co-supervisor for doctoral theses, pre-examiner of doctoral theses, and member of doctoral thesis committees. His research is supported by numerous projects, including "Mapping Mosquito-Borne Viruses" (2025-2026), "Näringsvävar i matsvamp" (2024-2025), and "Biodiversiteettimuutoksen mittarit ja ek" (2023-2027). He also leads the long-running "Spatial Foodweb Ecology Group" project since 2011. Professor Roslin leads the Spatial Foodweb Ecology Group, which employs innovative approaches to study ecological networks. The group has been instrumental in developing metabarcoding techniques for studying insect communities and their interactions. Recent work includes the Insect Biome Atlas project, which conducted a comprehensive metabarcoding survey of terrestrial arthropods in Sweden and Madagascar, and the Global Spore Sampling Project, which created a standardized dataset of airborne fungal DNA worldwide.

• Ecology
• evolutionary biology
• Baltic Sea benthic ecology
• +3 more

Ze Hui Kong is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Helsinki , affiliated with the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences and the Biological Stations . Holding a PhD in Ecology from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (awarded 2024), his research focuses on the impacts of marine heatwaves on coastal ecosystems, with expertise in metabarcoding and ecosystem ecology. Active project: Heatwave-driven rewiring of coastal food webs (2024–2028), funded by the Academy of Finland as part of the Academy Research Fellow program. Fields of Science: Ecology, evolutionary biology, Baltic Sea benthic ecology, marine heat waves, metabarcoding, ecosystem ecology.

Susanne KortschView profile

Research Fellow

• Marine Ecology
• Food Web Ecology
• Ecological Networks
• +7 more

Susanne Kortsch is an Academy Research Fellow at the University of Helsinki, affiliated with the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Biological Stations. As a marine community and food web ecologist, her work bridges ecological community structure with ecosystem functioning, emphasizing how ecological networks evolve across time and space. Current role: Academy Research Fellow Key affiliations: University of Helsinki, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Biological Stations Her research spans diverse ecological domains, including marine and Antarctic ecosystems, agronomy, pollination services, and climate change impacts. She integrates theoretical frameworks with empirical data to analyze food web robustness, biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships, and the cascading effects of stressors like microplastics and warming. Recent publications highlight her focus on: Trophic interaction responses to multiple stressors Climate-driven changes in flexible foraging behavior Mechanisms linking agricultural specialization to pollination vulnerability Heatwave-induced rewiring of coastal food webs Advancements in quantitative network approaches for ecosystem management Her work has been supported by the Research Council of Finland and private foundations, with projects spanning 2024-2028 and 2023-2028. She supervises doctoral research in Wildlife Biology and contributes to global marine and climate change research networks.